Google has announced that Chrome 116 will include a new implementation of the key encapsulation mechanism. This mechanism, known as key encapsulation mechanism (key), utilizes the GI Brid algorithm kyber-768. The implementation is based on cryptography methods derived from the theory of grilles, with a solution time that remains consistent on both ordinary and quantum computers. The specifications of the extension TLS 1.3, using X25519KYBER768 during key exchange, have been submitted to the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) for further approval.
In order to prevent compatibility issues with existing software, the implementation of the new algorithm will be carried out in stages. Chrome browsers and Google servers will gradually increase coverage. X25519KYBER768 will be used for both TCP and QUIC protocols, as well as when connecting to third-party services that support the algorithm, such as the Cloudflare content delivery network. The final approval of X25519KYBER768 as the key exchange algorithm will depend on the results of its test implementation.
Previously, Chrome 91 introduced experimental support for a key coordination method resistant to selection on quantum computers, called cecpq2. This method combined X25519 with the HRSS scheme using the NTRU Prime algorithm. However, due to compatibility issues with certain devices, support for this algorithm was disabled in Chrome 93. X25519KYBER768, on the other hand, has been deemed more promising and has been declared the winner of the Cryptoalgorithm competition resistant to selection on quantum computers by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).